⁹ So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward. (1 Samuel 18:9 CSB)

Life favors the bold. David was bold. But too, David was a man after God’s own heart. While life may favor the bold, God sets the boundaries on just how far we go. Often it would not seem so when we see others prosper through lifestyles that are anything but godly.

We can begin to be jealous and envious of people like this. Maybe not of their lifestyle but of the outcome of their boldness.

Saul became jealous and then murderous toward David. A friendship that seemed unbreakable began to unravel and Saul was both angry and fearful. Jealousy reveals itself in these emotions most. We become angry at what others have and then fearful for ourselves and what might be in store for us. All are weapons of the enemy that he loves to use in a fallen world with our human condition.

When we flip the script, let go of our expectations and allow our selves to be happy for others something interesting happens. Those people’s success loses power over us, as does the enemy’s accusations about how we are somehow lesser. We begin to see that others success does not have to be a statement about our lives. It is simply…different, and we are free to rejoice with them without feeling sorry for ourselves.